A look behind a State luncheon

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 19

A look behind a State luncheon

By

KEN COATES

The influence of TVl’s new head of information programmes, Richard Thomas, could be seen in the special which took a look behind the scenes at the State luncheon to visiting leader of the British Conservative Party, .Mrs Margaret Thatcher.

Mr Thomas, formerly of the was named in the credits as one of the directors. He strikes one as a broadcaster with an inquiring mind and a Creative urge to hold up aspects of New Zealand life and take a thorough look at them. It was not the kind of programme for which anyone would wait with bated breath, as it were, but ‘he fact that it was produced at all reflects a willingness to look beneath the surface of the hallowed and traditional.

“The Prime Minister Requests" was more than just coverage of a State luncheon. The programme managed to convey the atmosphere of organised chaos as kitchen staff cooked and served a meal for about 160 guests inside 47 minutes; it also

took a look at what a State luncheon is all about.

The programme made it quite clear that the invited guests represented the

"establishment” and that the guest-list had not been compiled with any thought of even representation of the sexes.

It was significant that for the most part the women involved were outside the Legislative Chamber used as the dining hall and most were researchers, typists and other Parliamentary staff who had volunteered as waitresses. The comments of National Party back-bencher, Mr Michael Minogue, summed up the banquet and its purpose well — it really is a matter of how you look at it. And as far as he was concerned, if neither Mr Muldoon nor Mrs Thatcher had anything important to say, “it will be just another one of those things.” The programme raised the question of protocol and the people who make up the guest-list for such functions. Did Mrs Thatcher really get to meet “the wide cross section of

people” to which she so eloquently referred?

The viewer was left pondering the form of such occasions and wonder i n g whether changes could perhaps be made, or whether perhaps such occasions are the best that we have devised for expressing warmth, friendship and good-will, at an official level.

The programme also managed to convey interesting touches which lightened the subject matter —the swift, back-stair delivery of garnished steaks,' the last-minute request for a vegetarian meal and the television lights melting the cream on the sweets.